Number of Covid-19-cases in SA increase to 1 280; second death confirmed

The number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in South Africa increased by 93 to 1 280 on Sunday, with a second death bringing it to two deaths from coronavirus. The health minister Zweli Mkhize said a 74-year-old man died while in an intensive-care unit in a private hospital in Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal. “It is with sadness that we announce the second death of a patient who had tested positive for COVID-19. The 74 year old male had been in ICU and ventilation in a private hospital in Ladysmith” The deceased patient had an underlying skin cancer condition
(melanoma), which had already complicated. He presented with the following symptoms: respiratory distress, shortness of breath, cardiac failure, decreased saturation and his
temperature was above 38 degrees. The man had travelled to Kruger National Park with his family and came back with flu-like symptoms when he tested positive for the diseases on 27 March. The deceased’s family, 14 health workers, including 3 specialist doctors, who were in contact with him have been placed in quarantine and being monitored, Mkhize said. South Africa entered day three of a national lockdown on Sunday in a bid to slow down the spread of the virus, which has infected over over 600 000 people globally, killing over 30 000. The lockdown has forced several businesses, aside from essential services including food and distribution, to a standstill. It is also prohibiting most South Africans from leaving their homes. The provincial breakdown is as follows: GAUTENG- 584 WESTERN CAPE- 310 KWAZULU – NATAL 167 FREE STATE- 72 NORTH WEST -6 MPUMALANGA -11 LIMPOPO- 12 EASTERN CAPE- 12 NORTHERN CAPE- 6 UNALLOCATED- 100